U.S. Vice President JD Vance spoke by phone on Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During the conversation they addressed the critical condition of Ukraine’s air defenses, the urgent need for interceptor missiles for Patriot systems, and the war’s effects on international markets.
The call occurred amid an escalation of attacks on both fronts of the conflict, as Ukraine seeks to bolster its defensive capabilities while Russia continues to apply military and economic pressure.
“I received a good phone call from the U.S. vice president, JD Vance. We discussed our recent meeting with President Trump in Washington, which was positive and productive,” Zelensky said in his statement.
Zelensky emphasized to Vance that obtaining Patriot interceptor missiles remains a “priority” for his country, especially given the shortage of this weaponry that is essential to defend against Russian ballistic missile strikes.
At their last meeting in Washington, Trump reportedly told Zelensky that Ukraine had been granted permission to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles in cooperation with the U.S. company Raytheon, consistent with what the U.S. president announced at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8.
However, Trump told the press he was not certain he would ultimately allow Ukraine to produce this strategic weapon.
“You have to be very cautious, but also very careful. We have not reached an agreement on this. We’re considering it, but it is difficult to hand over that kind of technology. And I don’t think this will happen. There are people who receive that technology who could one day turn against you,” the U.S. president warned when asked about the future of military cooperation with Kyiv.
During the call, Zelensky also raised with Vance the economic consequences of the war for global markets, particularly the impact of Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels.
Russian strikes have almost completely blocked access to Ukrainian ports, while Kyiv has responded with strikes on ports controlled by Russia in the Sea of Azov. The U.S. government has urged Ukraine to avoid such attacks in an effort to prevent further escalation and reduce risks to international trade.
At the end of the call, Zelensky said the two governments would keep close contact to advance the agreements discussed.
While diplomacy seeks new avenues to secure Ukraine’s defense, fighting continues on the ground. A drone attack on Friday caused a fire at an energy facility and at Wildberries warehouses—the leading online retailer in the Volgograd region of Russia—leaving at least five people injured.
Regional governor Andrei Bocharov confirmed the injured received medical care, and in neighboring Rostov a woman was also wounded in a separate drone attack. Meanwhile, the Ryazan refinery halted crude processing after a Ukrainian strike; the company expects the stoppage to last at least two weeks, which could affect the national supply of petroleum products.
Amid the hostilities, Zelensky stated that Russia has recorded around 1.6 million casualties since the start of the war, including about 700,000 deaths, while Ukraine has acknowledged roughly 50,000 soldiers killed and about 400,000 wounded.
(With information from EFE)